Jaguars' Jeremy Mincey lends hand to 'Big City Brawl in Duval'

Phillip Heilman

Wednesday

Jun 26, 2013 at 6:56 PM

In an effort to support the city and increase ticket sales for Friday night's 'Big City Brawl in Duval,' Jacksonville's first televised boxing match since 1997, Jaguars defensive end Jeremy Mincey will be providing fans with a unique ticket-purchasing experience.

Mincey will match each ticket that is bought with a purchase of his own, meaning fans will receive two tickets for the price of one for the event, which will be held at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

"It's a good thing for Jacksonville," said Mincey, who is working in conjunction with Banner Promotions. "I think it's time to bring more dimensions to Jacksonville other than just football and arena football. Boxing will be a great thing."

Mincey said he grew up idolizing boxing champions Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield before settling into a football career. He was first approached with the idea to help promote the fight during the Jaguars' minicamp earlier this month.

Kevin "Silk" Brewer, a promoter with Banner who has done much of the groundwork for the event, said Mincey, who has played in Jacksonville since 2006, was eager to get involved.

"When we started putting this together, they were in minicamp, and he said, 'Get it together and I'm there,' " Brewer said.

"Most people don't come back on that, but as soon as he was done, he called and said, 'Where are we?' And to his credit, he has been there every step of the way."

Mincey added: "Boxing actually was another one of my passions that I always wanted to do. I never tried because football was always there, but I think this boxing match is going to be good."

The main event on the card, which is scheduled to be televised on ESPN's "Friday Night Fights," is a 10-round bout between top middleweights Sergio Mora and Grzegorz Proksa. Several other fights, including three local boxers, are on the undercard.

Mora, who began fighting professionally in 2000, praised Mincey's commitment during a pre-fight news conference Wednesday afternoon at the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk.

"Every athlete wants to help," Mora said, "but they don't put their time and money where their mouth is [like Mincey has]."

Phillip Heilman: (904) 359-4146

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